Tourist Attractions in Covid-19 Medium, High Risk Zones Prohibited from Opening during Idul Fitri Holiday

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Tourist attractions located in areas with medium and high Covid-19 infection risks are not allowed to operate in the Idul Fitri holiday as part of the Indonesian government efforts to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission, police said. 

The nationwide Covid-19 caseload now stands at 1.68 million with more than 46,000 people dead. The number of confirmed cases in the country will usually climb during holiday seasons. 

"Tourist attractions in the red zone [high risk] and orange zone [medium risk] for Covid-19 must be closed [during Idul Fitri holiday]," said National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo in a telegram which was signed on April 30.

The telegram was addressed to the regional police chiefs to supervise tourist attractions in their respective area during the holiday. This measure was taken to anticipate a surge in visitors to tourist attractions in urban areas following the recent ban of the annual Idul Fitri exodus. 

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"Please monitor all tourist locations in your respective area during the holidays," Sigit said.

He further instructed regional police chiefs to tighten their supervision of health protocol implementation in open tourist destinations.

Sigit also asked regional police chiefs to coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies, the Covid-19 Task Force, and tourism operators to form a task force at tourist sites.

He instructed that an antigen swab test must be carried out on visiting tourists. Regional heads are also urged to impose sanctions on people who violate the provision or insist to enter tourist destinations despite the prohibition.

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